Cycle carriage
Cycle carriage on our trains is FREE of charge.
By familiarising yourself with our arrangements for carrying you and your bicycle you can ensure that you have a smooth journey.
Time restrictions
Some trains are very busy, we regret we are unable to carry any cycles:
- on any services south of Broxbourne or booked to arrive at Stratford or London Liverpool Street between 0745 and 0945 (except reserved spaces on Intercity services)
- on any services booked to leave Stratford or London Liverpool Street between 1630 and 1830 inclusive (except reserved spaces on Intercity services and on any services north of Broxbourne)
- on any services booked to leave Audley End or Ely towards Cambridge between 0745 and 0845.
These restrictions apply Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays.
London Liverpool Street - Norwich Intercity Services
Free of charge.
Reservations in advance are compulsory.
Six dedicated bicycle spaces are available in the Guard’s van.
The Guard’s van will be locked 3 minutes before departure time from London Liverpool Street and Norwich. Please arrive in good time to make sure your cycle is safely on board by then.
Reservations on the mainline Intercity service can be made by calling our Customer Relations team on 0845 600 7245 and selecting option 7. You must provide at least 24 hours in order to make a reservation. Spaces are subject to availability, on a first come, first served basis.
London Liverpool Street - Southend Victoria, Colchester
Free of charge.
Reservations are not required.
Time restrictions apply on weekdays to and from London Liverpool Street (see above).
London Liverpool Street – Chingford, Enfield, Hertford, Cambridge, Kings Lynn
Free of charge.
Reservations are not required.
Time restrictions apply on weekdays south of Broxbourne (see above).
Local services in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire
Free of charge.
First come first served.
Four cycle spaces per train.
Cycle rescue service available (see below)
Stansted Express (London Liverpool Street – Stansted Airport)
Only fully folded cycles and cycles that have been flat packed in preparation for air travel can be conveyed on Stansted Express services at any time.
Folding bicycles should be transported in a protective carrying case.
Free of charge.
Reservations not required.
Please also note the following aspects of our cycle carriage policy:
- We cannot carry tricycles or bicycle trailers on any of our services. We simply don’t have room – sorry!
- We are also sorry, but we can’t carry cycles on rail replacement bus services - again we simply don’t have room.
- Please don’t ride or ‘skate’ your cycle on any part of our station platforms or concourses.
- Tandems may be carried on the following routes and services (except where any relevant time restrictions apply) :
Norwich - Ipswich - Colchester - London intercity trains
Ipswich, Harwich, Clacton, Colchester, Braintree, Chelmsford and Southend to London services
Norwich – Cambridge, Ipswich – Peterborough and Ipswich – Cambridge trains (except for the first and last trains of the day between Ipswich – Cambridge and vice versa and the 06.23 Bury St. Edmunds – Ipswich)
Unfortunately, tandems cannot be carried on any other services and we cannot carry bicycle trailers or double deck cycles on any of our services at all. We simply don’t have room – sorry!
Cycle rescue service
Ticket holders receive the benefit of the National Express East Anglia / ETA cycle rescue service whilst travelling by train and bike in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. If your cycle breaks down or is stolen, both you and your bike (if appropriate) will be recovered and taken to the nearest station.
Cycling on the Bittern Track
You can also view the Bittern Track cycle routes if you're looking for places to go for a ride by train.